Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-06-23

the Mormon fell dead with bullet in
his brain. Two almost simultaneous
reports followed the first. but the
Italian had been quickest. and Truckce
Dan, leaping from the floor. dropped
lifeless upon the body of his compan-
ion, his own bullet blowing furrow
in the face Of the counter.
At once Frenchy. accompanied by
the jew, Landsburg, went down to the
large log structure which served the
purpose Of Jail. courthouse and public
hall, and gave himself into custody.
1t has been remarked by those familiar
with frontier and mining towns, that
when quarrels therein end fatally the
victims appear TO have little sympathy
given them. This is probably because
they many times do not deserve any.
Such brawls being generally among
gamblers, or others who are despisers
of peaceful controversy, the bulk OF
orderly people are apt to think them
well gotten rid Of. There being. too,
for the most part, no kinship or any
thing save present profit or convent
ence to bind men together, even when
one meets a fate he did not deserve,
his acquaintance are seldom disposed
TO press the punishment Of his slayer.
Either ''he hadn't nerve" or was ''out
Of luck" and so the matter ends.
No one, therefore, was surprised
when, Immediately as the news OF
what had happened spread, there was q
revIlsion Of feeling in regard to the
survivor Of the affray, so that a coro-
ner's jury. two days afterward, upon
the Jews testimony, acquitted
Frenchy on the ground Of justiiiable
homicide, as probably would have been
done any where else.
The first thing he heard, after re-
gaining his liberty, was that Galena
Canyon no longer contained the witch
ing Portuguese. She had left on the
day after the shooting with her mother
for Salt Lake. when il was said they
took passage for san Francisco. Moth
ing could be obtained from the girl,
father who, with his other children
continued 70 inhabit their dwelling a.
before. Whether her fatal gift o
beauty" was feared, by that frontier
Helen, and likely to excite further strif'
among the hot-blooded spirits Of th'
canyon, or whether some absent love-
was in danger Of being supplanted by
the Italian, no one ever knew, but GER
tain il is from that time she was seer
there no more.
Just before winter began, rs de
scribed at the opening Of the story
the Guinea excitement ran higher THAI
ever. SO that party was organized Il
put out for the new country. Among
others, having made some arrange
mcnt with his partner, was Frenchy
He came 10 our camp, late one night
and, with tears in his eyes, babe u
goodbye. The next morning the part,
left for Ogden Junction. from whence
they came east and engaged passag
upon a bark. in one OF the Atlan.i
ports. for Cayenne. Soon after ais
left the mines and heard nothing NOR
Of the expedition. Some three year
later 1 met a man in New York whom
l know in the canyon, and from hin
learned that about year after the ad
yenturers left, they began, one on tw
! at time, 10 be seen in the Utah mines
Some half Of the number thus returne
with stories Of disappointment and in
credible hardships endured. The otl
er half had fallen victims to the climat
or to fatigue. My informant could nc
remember the names Of all who wer
left behind, but believed there was on
among them who was called Frenchl
A. H. y.